Nishikori first Japanese slam semifinalist since '33

Kei Nishikori felt like he had jet lag.

That will happen after playing more than 8 1/2 hours of tennis in two Grand Slam matches separated by about a day and a half. Nishikori did not mind because he knew he had made history. He became the first man from Japan to reach the US Open semifinals in 96 years, outlasting third-seeded Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7), 6-7 (5), 6-4 on Wednesday.

"I hope," Nishikori said, "it's big news in Japan."